|
Thursday, April 22, 2004
MILF participates in poll process: AFP
By Jun Feliciano
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Basilan may no longer be a threat to the coming elections here as they participate in the electoral process by allowing candidates to campaign in their claimed territories.
Observations made by Col. Ray Ferrer, Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade commander, revealed that known MILF areas like Tuburan, Sumisip and Tipo-Tipo towns in Basilan, which is now a part of the Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao (Armm), are accessible to candidates seeking local elective posts in the May 10 elections.
"They (MILF rebels) join rallies and listen to officials in their campaigns. They don't have any intention to disrupt the electoral process," Ferrer said.
Ferrer added at present MILF is in talks with the government for peace in Mindanao.
He said he has no knowledge if there is any MILF candidate running for the May elections in the island province.
"But the fact that they show interest in the forthcoming political exercise by attending political rallies and welcoming candidates in their campaign trips to their areas is a good sign that they will not disrupt the May 10 polls in the province," Ferrer added.
The top military commander in the new Armm province also expressed optimism that the Abu Sayyaf will no longer pose a threat in the coming elections as they have already been weakened by the death of Commander Hamsiraji Sali.
Ferrer is confident that the 20 remaining escapees, including seven Abu Sayyaf suspects led by Abu Black, will soon be rearrested.
"They will soon fall into our hands, as they are all still holed-out somewhere in Lantawan, where they fled. We have troops deployed in the area ready to get them," Ferrer said.
He said their escape last April 10 is an isolated case and will not pose any problem to the conduct o the May 10 elections in the island.
He described the political atmosphere in his area of responsibility as quiet and peaceful, as all the candidates are observing proper decorum in their respective campaign sorties.
Police and military are coming up with security measures to insure a peaceful and orderly conduct of elections in the whole province.
(April 22, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Guv suspended even if reelected: DILG